Giuseppe Gaudenzi

Giuseppe Gaudenzi

• Giuseppe Gaudenzi was born on 24 October 1880 in Italy.
• The following appeared on 18 December 1910 in The Buffalo Courier: The Bessie Abbott Grand Opera Company, which is making a Southern tour, is meeting with great success everywhere and Signor Giuseppe Gaudenzi, the young Italian tenor, who has been spending the summer in Buffalo coaching with his teacher, Mrs. Edith Watkins Griswold of Dorchester Road, and who will sing the leading role in Mascagni's new opera, "Ysobel," when it is produced in America, has been enthusiastically received in the South. The Macon, Georgia, papers speaking of his singing say: "As Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Sig. Gaudenzi was found in every way equal to the demands of this taxing role. With a handsome presence and dramatic instinct and a voice powerful and resonant, he sang the part with artistic understanding and won his audience from the start."
       The Jacksonville paper says: "Speaking of the singers, the company has an exquisite voice in that of the tenor, Gaudenzi--a splendid actor as well as singer--and the beauty of his tone production as well as his interpretation of the role of Pinkerton was one of the most enjoyable features of the opera. His voice is sweet as well as robust in quality and he has a dramatic quality which gives it force and expression."
       When Sig. Gaudenzi sang the first night even the members of the orchestra rose to their feet and called repeatedly for "Gaudenzi! Gaudenzi!" Everywhere this artist has met with the most flattering reception which is ov course a gratification to his teacher, Mrs. Griswold, whose pupil he was in Italy during her residence there of several years.
• The following appeared on 13 September 1913 in The Buffalo Courier: Mme. Edith Watkins-Griswold of New York and her sister, Miss Marie Watkins of Dorchester road have been spending the summer in Europe and are now in Bologna, from whence Mme. Griswold writes: "While in Paris we saw a fine performance of "Faust" with Lassalle in the title role, a tenor with whom I sang Nedda at the Lyric theater in Milan almost three years ago. He has a magnificant voice, more dramatic than lyric, thence not at its best in some portions of the opera. The staging and orchestra were admirable.
       From Bologna we are going on to beloved Florence, but we may delay on departure and go first to Verona for a really wonderful performance of "Aida" to be given in the old Arena, the stage being in the middle and without any background. Zenatella and Maria Gay are singing in the cast as well as some other fine artists.
       We have been the guests of Sig. Giuseppe Gaudenzi's brother and his family at their beautiful country home, one of the finest in all Italy.
       Sig. Gaudenzi has been singing in San Sebastiano, Spain, with Tito Ruffo and Cavaliers in "Pagliacci." He has created a furore and has been invited to sing next season at the Royal theater at Madrid. This season, as you know, he has signed with the Montreal Grand Opera company.
       From Florence we are going to Vallambroa to visit friends and sail for home from Genoa on September 16.
• He married Edith Watkins, daughter of William Benjamin Watkins and Elizabeth Partridge, on 10 June 1916.
• The following appeared on 20 June 1916 in the Buffalo Courier-Express: Mr. and Mrs. William B. Watkins have issued announcements of the marriage of their daughter Edith to Dr. Giuseppe Gaudenzi on Saturday, June 10, 1916. At home after October 1, No. 41 East Fifty-second street, New York city.
• He officially witnessed the death of William Benjamin Watkins on 10 September 1924 in Erie County, New York; The Buffalo Morning Express: W. Benjamin Watkins died at his lakeshore home yesterday after an illness of several months. He came to Buffalo from Wales in his early youth and from here went to Canada in the employ of the Michigan Central railway, advancing to the position of master mechanic at Saint Thomas.
       Later Mr. Watkins returned to Buffalo to take charge of the New York Car Wheel works, with which firm he was connected for more than 30 years, and distinguished himself while thus associated, in connection with the building of the McAdoo tunnel. In 1917 he organized the Buffalo Commercial Body corporation.
       Mr. Watkins leaves a wife and two daughters, Mrs. Edith Gaudenzi and Mrs. Marie Dunn.
• The following appeared on 14 September 1924 in The Buffalo Courier: The many friends in the town of Mme. Edith Watkins-Gaudenzi, the operatic soprano, will sympathize with her in the recent loss of her father, William B. Watkins of Norwood avenue, whose death occurred at his summer home at Angola-on-the-Lake. [:CR;]      Mr. Watkins was a prominent business man, and of a quiet, unassuming nature, finding his greatest joy in his family. He was a man of exemplary character and high standing in the community. He was a great lover of the best in music and took great pride in Mme. Gaudenzi's musical career both here and abroad. The deep affection between father and daughter was a beautiful one, and Mme. Gaudenzi, whose home is in New York, did not take her usual trip abroad this summer, but has been in constant attendance at her father's bedside. Mr. Gaudenzi, who recently arrived from Italy, has also been spending some weeks here. Mr. Watkins is survived by his wife and his two daughters, Edith Watkins Gaudenzi and Marie Watkins Dunn.

• Last Edited: 13 Apr 2014